Deer Park food bank needs a new home

Published 7:00 pm, Monday, May 24, 2004

For more than 20 years, Interfaith Helping Hands, the Deer Park food bank, has been helping less-fortunate families in the community sustain nourishment during troubled times.

Now the food bank is looking to the community for help during a crisis. Unless a new home is found soon for the charity organization, the food bank may have to cease operations.

For the last several years, Interfaith Helping Hands has been operating rent-free at their location at 1619 Center Street. However, the landlord now has a tenant who will rent the 1,250-square-foot facility, which will mean the food bank will have no choice but to relocate.

Although the food bank must be cleared of the location by June 8, Brian Barry, director of the facility, said it will cease operations after Memorial Day. Barry, along with volunteers, operates Interfaith Helping Hands at their own expense. While they have operated without having to pay rent, the charity did pay its own utilities and maintenance costs.

"We've been pretty fortunate to have this place as long as we did," Barry said. "We are thankful that he (the landlord) gave us all this time and space. We understand his decision."

According to Ella Yarish, who oversees the day-to-day operations of the food bank, the volunteers of the facility were aware that they could continue to occupy the facility rent-free. However, when the landlord of the facility was able to find a renter who would pay, the food bank would have to move.

"We are very grateful for the time we had here, but I really don't know what we are going to do," Yarish said. "It's causing me some sleepless nights, but we are all trying our best."

Yarish said the food bank closing, temporary or otherwise, could not have come at a worse time. "With summer around the corner, more kids are going to be out of school and that means they are going to be at home," she said.

During the school year, the schools provide breakfast and lunch for free or a reduced rate for qualifying students. Yarish said the food bank helps many families whose children qualify for the reduced rate and free meals from schools. In the summertime, the families will have to provide an extra meal that they would not normally have to in the school year.

Barry said he is optimistic that someone will be able to help the pantry locate a new facility for the charity.

"I have sent letters to all the churches and am putting the word out in the community that we need a new place. I am pretty optimistic that we will be able to come up with something on a more permanent basis," Barry said. "We have been through this before and we have always landed on our feet."

Until a new location is found, Barry said non-perishable food donations will go into storage.

Interfaith Helping Hands consists of all volunteers. No one affiliated with the program is paid for their services. Barry said the food bank provides assistance to more than 40 families every month.

"We are very proud of the work we have been able to do, but if we would have to shut this place down, that would be a real tragedy," Barry said.

"I just don't know what all the families who depend on us will do," Yarish said. "I am really worried about them. We are trying our best, but the families are going to need help. I pray that someone comes in and is able to step up for us. There are a lot of families that need to help. We hope someone comes through.

For information on how to help Interfaith Helping Hands, contact Barry at 281-479-1655.